Meter protecting device



Aug. 30, 1932. T. J. MARTIN METER PROTECTlNG DEVICE Filed May 14, 1929IIIHHII INVENTOR it; ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 30, 1932 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE THOMAS J". MARTIN, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORTOSUPERIOR METER COM- PANY, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEWJERSEY METER PROTECTING DEVICE Application filed May 14, 1929. SerialNo. 363,043.

-My invention relatesto meter protecting devices and refers particularlyto devices of this character adapted for use with gas meters- Theparticular object of my invention is a device capable of attachment to ameter, such as a gas meter, whereby the insertion of a wire into themeter for the purpose of so tampering with it as to affect its measuringmechanism is prevented.

Another object of my invention is a device of the character described inwhich the flow of gas from the meter is not affected.

The present known devices of this character possess the undesirableattribute of impeding the rate of gas flow, thus lessening the ratedcapacity of meter and my device overcomes this objectionable feature andpre- .sents a means whereby the meter is effectively protected againsttampering without affecting the flow of gas through it.

The above and other advantages of the device of my invention will beevident upon a consideration of my specification and its accompanyingdrawing.

In the accompanying drawing, illustrating modified forms of the deviceof my invention, similar parts are designated by similar numerals.

Figure 1 is a vertical side view section of one form of my deviceattached to a meter.

Figure 2 is an elevation view along the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section through the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a front view of a modified form of cover.

Figure 5'is a section through the line 55 of Figure 4.

The particular form of the device of my invention shown in Figures 1, 2and 3 of the accompanying drawing, comprises a casing having the tubularportion 10, the semi-tubular portion 11, the enlarged chamber 12 and thesemi-tubular portion 13 which is closed at its lower end. A flange 14Lsurrounds the conduits of the portions 11, 12 and 13, said flange havinga plurality of holes 15, 15,

through which rivets will attach the device to the side 16 of the gasmeter 17.

The portion 10 has the extended support 18, having a recess 19, thesupport 18 being capable of placement upon the top 20 of the meter 17.

Within the chamber 12 and carried by the wall thereof is a flatbaffle-plate 21, the outer edgeof whlch is notched, forming recesses V,A cover 23, having an extended protective lugs 25, 25, carried by theportion 12, the face of the cover being flush with the face of theflange 14:. The cover has an opening 26 1n allgnment with the opening 27of the meter side 16. Y

Gas entering the device through the openings 27 and 26 moves directlyupwardly through the device, passing through the "spaces between theedges ofthe bathe-plate 22 and the sides of the chamber 12 and throughthe spaces formed by the notched edge ofthe baflle-plate 22 and thecover 23.

It is to be noted that there is no downward deflection of the gas, whichwould cause a back pressure, such as results fromv a downwardly curvedbafile-plate which forms a pocket for the gas, but that in my device theupward flow of the gas is unimpeded, which is a most important andvaluble improvement over previously known devices of this character.

It will be further noted that the position of the baflie-plate 22 issuch that it is impossible to introduce a wire through the opening 28 ofthe tubular member 10 and into the meter 17 through the openings 26 and27, thus effectually preventing tampering with the meter. 1

i In the modification of my device shown in Figures 4 and 5, the notchedbathe-plate 29 is fixedly attached to the cover 23 instead of thebaflle-plate 22 integral with the wall of the chamber 12. The cover 23,in both forms, has two elongated recesses 30, 30 to receive two extendedbeads carried by the side 16 of the meter 17.

. The cover 23 is not essential to the baflieplate preventivefeature ofmy device, but

I prefer touse it as it can be made not 'casehardened steel, or of otherhard material, thus increasing the difficulty of tapping the upperportion of the device in order to reach the me-' ter for tamperingtherewith, and hence greatly increasing the efficiencyoi the device.

It Wilh thus be seen that my *devi ce efl ectively prevents tamperingwith the meterby means of a wlre, wh le possessing the valuableattribute gas therethrough.

of allowing an unimpeded of I do not limit myself to the particularsize,,..

I shape, number or arrangement" o'f'parts' as shown and described asthese aregiven What-claim-is+ 2 7 1 v1. Ina-meter protecting device;eombi- M a as a'means for clearly describing thedevic'e of inyinventions V nation: a casing having an open sidecapable of plaeerirmntagain-st a meter walhone end g X of saidlca'sing being" tubular and-theother placement upon the top of a meterito which the device is attached;an enlargedchamber within said casing; a cover closing the. open" sideof said casing and having an aperture therein capable of being placedinalignment with anopeningfiinsaid' side, wall of a meter;aiiprotectrvelflange to cover said recess of said casing and abafile-plate within said enlarged chamber preventing the down e wardpassafge of a wire-i throughsai'd device I anathroagu the openings 'insaid cover and said meter side wall. 7

signed at New York city, in the county'ot New York and State of New.York this 7th a MA I 1 endbein-g closed; an enlarged chamber Withf;v

in said casing; and a flat horizontalbaflie plate-within'said chamberand spaeedin part tromthe wall of said ehamberpreventi'ngthe"belowsaidbafiiaplate; v

2-; In; a meterprotecting capable/tot being placed in alignment with an'openingin a meter wall and-a fiathoril izont'al battle-plate withinsaidcha'mber abut- V ting; upon the wall of saidchamber'andsai-ddownward passageo-t a-wire through said de- I vice and through anopening: intsaid: meter cover and preventing'thedownward passage etawirethroughsaiddevice andthrongh e the openings in. said cover/ dSaidvm'eter In mwally. 1 l V I 3.111 a meter protectingidevice; in bombiI I Y i nation; acasi'ng having an open sidejcapable ofplacement againstthe side wall. of-a meter,

one end of'said casingbeing tubular andthe j A V i other end beingclosed; an enlargedchaniber within said'casing; a cove'r closing theopen vice and through the openings and said meter side wall; e

side of said casing and having an "opening therein capable of beingplacedin alignment 1 withl-an opening in said side iwall of a; 'meter towhich the device is attached; a protective': flange to" said' fCOVGIcapable of placement upon the top of said. meter, anda bafiie-plfate'within'saidenlargedchamberpreventing thei l downward passage. of a wirethrough said de- 4;; In a meter, protecting device, in combi L nation; acasing having an open side capable in said: cover I, I"

I of placement against thes'idewall of a meter, l one end of said casingbeing tubular and the i other end being closed said casing having e anextended. recessed support ':,capable of

